Our gift to children is a murky future

The leaders in my generation apparently wish to live without having to accept limits to growth of seemingly endless economic globalization, increasing per capita consumption of scarce resources and skyrocketing human population numbers worldwide.

Their desires are evidently insatiable. They choose to believe anything that meet the "standards" for political convenience and economic expediency. And they act accordingly.

But despite all their widely shared and consensually validated specious ideas and soon to be unsustainable production, consumption and propagation activities, Earth exists in space-time, is relatively small and bounded, and has limited resources upon which the survival of life as we know it depends. Whatsoever is is, is it not?

What worries me is this: the elder guarantors of a good enough future for the children appear to be leading our kids down a "primrose path" along which the children could unexpectedly be confronted with sudden, potentially colossal threats to human and environmental health that are directly derived from human-driven, converging global challenges such as pernicious impacts of global warming and climate change, pollution of the air, water and land from microscopic particulates and solid waste, and the reckless dissipation of scarce natural resources.

All the while, the leading elders remain in denial of the fulminating ecological degradation by willfully declining to acknowledge, much less begin to address, humanity's emerging, human-induced predicament. One day, perhaps sooner rather than later, our children could have extraordinary difficulties responding ably to that with which they could soon come face to face, that is to say, because their elders have so adamantly refused to recognize God's great gift of good science, our kids will not even know what "hit" them, much less why it is happening. -- Steven Earl Salmony, Chapel Hill

Beggar providesholiday reminder

On the morning of Christmas Eve, I went out to get some gas at the local station. While driving, I saw hundreds of motorists rushing to the malls to do their "last-minute shopping." These motorists, including myself, passed a few beggars looking for something, anything. They could have been Korean, Vietnam or Iraqi war vets. We didn't know, and few seemed to care.

As I poured gas into the tank, I noticed one beggar across the street. As I saw the dollars and gallons ring up, I kept looking at that guy, and I remembered it was Christmas once again.

And then I had an idea: If can afford money for gas, certainly I can afford something for this guy. I thought of my house, kids, cars and presents under the tree, and I felt damned lucky. After filling up the tank, I also bought a large cup of hot chocolate and a Slim Jim, then I walked across the street to the homeless man, who looked like he hadn't shaved or slept in days. Handing him the hot chocolate and Slim Jim, I shook his hand and said, "Merry Christmas, bro." He took the chocolate and Slim Jim and said, "Thank you; God bless you brother." And we parted ways.

We must all count our blessings, remember your brothers and sisters who are less fortunate, and share a bit of your cheer with them. I am returning to a warm house, nice kids and a Christmas tree. John Doe, who I had the pleasure of meeting, is probably returning to the woods to sleep outdoors, surrounded by undecorated Christmas trees.

Christmas is over now. As I look back on the events of the past few days, I've enjoyed the true spirit of Christmas, and that indeed giving to the less fortunate, is much more satisfying that receiving. -- Rene' Paul de la Varre, Chapel Hill

Reader takes issuewith sports column

Before I start, I'll tell you I am a Wake fan who doesn't like much of anything about UNC, but some things are just plain wrong.

That being said. I have never seen a more disgraceful column than the one by Eddy Landreth humiliating the football players who were victims of sexual assault ("Not the holiday that UNC expected," Dec. 23).

Please don't give me the rationalization he said he wasn't trying to mock them. That would insult my intelligence and the intelligence of everyone who read the column.

There is no excuse for what he wrote. There's also no excuse for your allowing such a thoughtless, despicable column to be published.

You should be ashamed. -- Rick Karlsruher, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Web site offers tips for the future

During the holidays our grandchildren bring us joy. They also remind us (very nicely and not in so many words) that the world we live in is not ours alone -- we are borrowing it from them and their grandchildren.

When our first grandchild was born, I experienced a heightened awareness of, and sense of responsibility for, the world he and his generation are inheriting from our generation. I began to wonder if other grandparents were going through the same process. If you are interested in working together to ensure a better world for our grandchildren, visit http://ourgrandchildrensworld.net/ -- Jack Denniston, Chapel Hill